Volkswagen catalytic converter recycling prices

The core value of Volkswagen catalytic converter recycling mainly stems from the precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium contained in its internal coating, and the international market price of these metals directly affects the recycling offer. When considering Volkswagen catalytic converter recycling, you need to know the specific valuation: for ordinary models such as Rangyi and Bora, the individual recycling price is around US$20 to US$80; while high-end models such as Touguang and Maiteng 2.0T can be up to US$100 to US$200 each due to the larger carriers and thicker coatings (these prices are just valuations, please contact our buyers for the exact prices). The key factors affecting the recycling price of Volkswagen catalytic converter include the model and displacement (larger displacement/luxury cars have higher content), whether it carries the OE marking or not (e.g., Volkswagen OE code is more recognized), and the integrity of the carrier (breakage will lead to loss of metal and depreciation of its value). Therefore, in the process of Volkswagen catalytic converter recycling, it is important to avoid damaging the honeycomb structure by violent dismantling, and it is highly recommended to choose a regular precious metal recycler for trading in order to prevent some channels from suppressing the price by more than 15%.

I. Components

Outer cylinder structure

Made of double-layer stainless steel plate, with excellent corrosion resistance and mechanical strength, can withstand high-temperature exhaust gas impact and road vibration, prolonging the service life 15.

Honeycomb ceramic carrier

Material: Mainly cordierite (a kind of high-temperature resistant ceramics), with continuous working temperature up to 1200℃, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and strong resistance to thermal shock579.

Design: Honeycomb porous structure, mesh count is usually 400-600 mesh/inch², and the wall thickness is about 0.16mm. This design greatly increases the surface area of catalytic reaction, and at the same time, reduces the resistance of exhaust gas 59.

Shape: Cylindrical, runway or shaped cross-section adapted to the model (e.g. Volkswagen Maiden/Touareg is runway shaped, Ranger/Bora is cylindrical)59.

Catalyst coating

The carrier surface is coated with a precious metal catalyst:

Platinum (Pt): oxidizes hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO);

Palladium (Pd): assists in the oxidation reaction;

Rhodium (Rh): reduces nitrogen oxides (NOx) to nitrogen137.

Additional additives, such as Cerium Dioxide (CeO₂) and Gamma Aluminum Oxide (Gamma-Al₂O₃), enhance catalytic efficiency and stability7.

Auxiliary Layers

Vibration damping pad: wrapping the carrier to minimize vibration damage;

Insulation layer: maintaining a high temperature environment to ensure catalytic reaction efficiency7.

Key Performance Parameters

Purification efficiency

It can convert more than 90% of CO, HC, and NOx in the exhaust gas into harmless CO₂, H₂O, and N₂, and meets National V/Euro V and above emission standards19.

Temperature adaptability

Ignition temperature: approx. 250°C (fast-acting on cold start);

Optimal operating window: 400-800°C79.

Physical Properties

Compressive strength: >2MPa (guaranteeing structural stability under high exhaust pressure);

Flow resistance: significantly lower than earlier products, reducing engine power loss59.

Life and durability

Design life typically exceeds 160,000 kilometers, but is affected by fuel quality (e.g., lead/sulfur poisoning can lead to failure)